Engaru Town: child medical expense subsidy
In Engaru Town, Hokkaido, the child medical expense subsidy covers outpatient care until school entry (age 6) and inpatient care through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 15 (end of junior high school). Income limit: yes. Co-payment: yes. (As of April 1, 2025, Children and Families Agency survey.)
Engaru Town does not meet coverage through age 18 and no income limit and no co-payment of the three conditions (coverage through age 18, no income limit, no co-payment). In Hokkaido, 124 of 179 municipalities meet all three.
Municipalities call this program by different names (小児医療費助成, こども医療費助成, 乳幼児医療費助成, 子育て支援医療). This site uses the national survey's term, "child medical expense subsidy".
- Covered until (Outpatient)
- Until school entry(April 1, 2025)
- Covered until (Inpatient)
- Age 15(April 1, 2025)
- Income limit
- Yes(April 1, 2025)
- Co-payment
- Yes(April 1, 2025)
- Coverage through age 18
- No (outpatient to Until school entry, inpatient to Age 15)(April 1, 2025)
- Population
- 17,646(Resident register, 2024)
- Share under 15
- 10.2%(2020 census)
For applications, refunds and visits outside the prefecture, check the official website of Engaru Town.
Child medical expense subsidy
| Item | Outpatient | Inpatient |
|---|---|---|
| Covered until | Until school entry until school entry (age 6) | Age 15 through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 15 (end of junior high school) |
| Income limit | Yes | Yes |
| Co-payment | Yes | Yes |
No change since April 1, 2024
Source: Children and Families Agency, Survey on Municipal Child Medical Expense Subsidies (municipal form, attachment 3) (As of April 1, 2025). Last checked September 24, 2026
The national survey records conditions as of April 1 and is published in December. Some municipalities have expanded coverage since then. Confirm the current conditions on the municipality's official website.
Frequently asked questions
Until what age does Engaru Town subsidize child medical expenses?
Outpatient care is covered until school entry (age 6) and inpatient care through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 15 (end of junior high school) (as of April 1, 2025).
A co-payment is charged at the counter.
Are high school students covered in Engaru Town?
No. Outpatient care is covered until school entry (age 6) and inpatient care through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 15 (end of junior high school).
Does Engaru Town apply an income limit?
Yes (as of April 1, 2025).
Do the conditions differ between outpatient and inpatient care in Engaru Town?
Yes. Outpatient care is covered until school entry (age 6) (income limit: yes; co-payment: yes); inpatient care is covered through the end of the fiscal year in which the child turns 15 (end of junior high school) (income limit: yes; co-payment: yes).
Has Engaru Town changed its conditions since last year?
No. The national surveys as of April 1, 2024 and April 1, 2025 record the same conditions.
How does Engaru Town compare with other municipalities in Hokkaido?
Engaru Town does not meet coverage through age 18 and no income limit and no co-payment of the three conditions (coverage through age 18, no income limit, no co-payment). In Hokkaido, 124 of 179 municipalities meet all three.
If I move out of Engaru Town, do the same conditions apply?
No. The subsidy is run by the municipality you live in, so the new municipality's conditions apply. Check its page on this site, and confirm the procedure on that municipality's official website.
Municipalities of similar size in Hokkaido: Kushiro Town, Fukagawa City, Rumoi City, Memuro Town, Bihoro Town, Kutchan Town, Yoichi Town, Shibetsu City
Nursery and after-school club waiting lists in Engaru Town
Engaru Town had 0 children on the nursery waiting list as of April 1, 2026 (312 applicants, 312 enrolled; 0 waiting a year earlier). After-school clubs had 0 children waiting as of May 1, 2026 (preliminary; 282 registered).
| Item | Value | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery waiting list | 0 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Waiting list a year earlier (April 1, 2025) | 0 | Apr 1, 2025 |
| Nursery applicants | 312 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| Children enrolled in nurseries | 312 | Apr 1, 2026 |
| After-school club waiting list | 0 | May 1, 2026 (prelim.) |
| After-school club registrations | 282 | May 1, 2026 (prelim.) |
"Waiting" follows the national definition: applicants not enrolled, excluding those on parental leave, those who want only a specific facility, and those who have paused their job search. Zero does not guarantee a place at a preferred facility. After-school club figures are preliminary and may be revised.
Source: Children and Families Agency, Summary of Nursery Care Status (April 1, 2026) / Children and Families Agency, Status of After-School Clubs (May 1, 2026, preliminary)
Parks, libraries, community centers and nursery schools in Engaru Town
Engaru Town has 22 urban parks (102.0 ha), or 72.8 m² per resident (Rank 30 of 179 in Hokkaido). It has 4 libraries, 2 community centers, 6 nursery schools and 8 elementary schools.
Urban parks: MLIT inventory as of March 31, 2025. Libraries and community centers: e-Stat, 2021. Nursery and elementary schools: e-Stat.
| Item | Value | Rank in prefecture | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban parks | 22 | Rank 44 of 179 in Hokkaido | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area | 102.0 ha | — | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Urban park area per residentDivided by the population of the city-planning area (MLIT's calculation) | 72.8 m² | Rank 30 of 179 in Hokkaido | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Libraries | 4 | Rank 25 of 179 in Hokkaido | 2021 |
| Community centers | 2 | — | 2021 |
| Nursery schools | 6 | Rank 58 of 179 in Hokkaido | 2023 |
| Kindergartens | 0 | — | 2024 |
| Elementary schools | 8 | — | 2024 |
Source: MLIT, Inventory of Urban Parks (end of FY2024, as of March 31, 2025) / e-Stat, Statistical Observations of Municipalities 2026 (Statistics Bureau of Japan)
Population, share of children, net migration and doctors in Engaru Town
- PopulationResident register, 2024
- 17,646Rank 36 of 179 in Hokkaido2024
- Share under 15
- 10.2%Rank 75 of 179 in Hokkaido2020 census
- Share 65 and over
- 37.6%2020 census
- Share of foreign residents
- 0.4%2020 census
- Net migration (move-ins minus move-outs)2024. A positive number means more people moved in than moved out
- -202Rank 109 of 179 in Hokkaido2024
- Births per 1,000 residents
- 3.8Rank 119 of 179 in Hokkaido2023
- Nursery schools
- 62023
- Nursery schools per 1,000 children under 15
- 3.06Rank 58 of 179 in Hokkaido2023
- Kindergartens
- 02024
- Elementary schools
- 82024
- Doctors per 10,000 residents
- 26.6Rank 15 of 179 in Hokkaido2022
- Clinics per 10,000 residents
- 7.92023
- General hospitals
- 22023
- Owner-occupied homes
- 69.5%2023
- Floor area per dwelling
- 103.7 m²2023
- Fiscal strength indexAbove 1 means local tax revenue covers standard spending
- 0.26Rank 65 of 179 in Hokkaido2022
- Restaurants
- 782021
Source: e-Stat, Statistical Observations of Municipalities 2026 (Statistics Bureau of Japan)
"—" means e-Stat has no value for this item (the Housing and Land Survey does not cover towns and villages).
Compare with similar-sized municipalities in Hokkaido
| Municipality | Population | Outpatient until | Income limit | Co-payment (outpatient / inpatient) | Nursery waiting list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engaru Town | 17,646 | Until school entry | Yes | Yes / Yes | 0 |
| Kushiro Town | 18,380 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Fukagawa City | 18,329 | Age 18 | Yes | No / No | 0 |
| Rumoi City | 18,169 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Memuro Town | 17,773 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Bihoro Town | 17,329 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Kutchan Town | 17,120 | Age 18 | No | Yes / Yes | 0 |
| Yoichi Town | 16,954 | Age 18 | No | No / No | 0 |
| Shibetsu City | 16,440 | Age 15 | No | No / No | 0 |
Outpatient age limit, income limit and co-payment are the national survey values as of April 1, 2025.
Page updated: . You may quote this table. Please credit Machishirabe and the original survey.